Simulating Real-World Terrain on an Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

A system may include a receiving module and a conversion module. The receiving module may be for receiving location data associating video data depicting a real-world route with topographical location of the real-world route. The conversion module may be for creating an exercise program. The exercise program could include control signals representing changes to be made to one or more operating parameters of an exercise device as the video data depicting the real-world route is displayed to a user of the exercise device. The control signals may be based at least in part on the location data. The changes to the one or more operating parameters may correspond at least in part to one or more aspects of the real-world route.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional patent application No.62/126,268 titled “Simulating Real-World Terrain on an Exercise Device”filed Feb. 27, 2015, which application is herein incorporated byreference for all that it discloses.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments discussed herein generally relate to simulating real-worldterrain on an exercise device. In particular, some embodiments mayrelate to simulating real-world terrain associated with video data of areal-world route.

2. Relevant Technology

Finding motivation to use an exercise device on a consistent and ongoingbasis is a common challenge for users of exercise devices. Therepetitive nature of exercise routines that a user performs on aparticular exercise device may act to limit the motivation of the user.

With typical exercise devices, a user may remain in a relatively limitedarea during the exercise routine. To provide diversity during theexercise routine, the user's level of exertion may be varied at varioustimes during the exercise routine. Providing variety to the user's levelof exertion may often be insufficient to motivate the user to use theexercise device on an ongoing basis.

A lack of mental stimulation experienced by the user during the exerciseroutine may also act to limit the user's motivation. Users may growbored with their unchanging surroundings. Many users may listen to musicand/or watch television to help relieve their boredom, but if the useris sufficiently engaged by the music and/or the television to avoidboredom, the user's exercise intensity often suffers, which may reducethe benefit of the exercise routine.

Furthermore, many exercise devices are equipped with a display toprovide visual stimulation and motivation to the user of the device. Forexample, some displays depict a track for indicating to a user how farthe user has run, pedaled, or the like. Similarly, some displays depicthills that provide a visual representation of the resistance orinclination of the device. While these types of displays may providesome visual stimulation to the user, most users will quickly becomebored with such displays, and the desired stimulatory benefits will notbe realized. In contrast, when a person goes outside for a walk, run, orbicycle ride, the person's surrounding are constantly changing, whichcan provide sufficient mental stimulation to keep the person motivatedthroughout the exercise routine.

The claimed subject matter is not limited to embodiments that solve anydisadvantages or that operate only in environments such as thosedescribed above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrateone exemplary area in which some of the described embodiments may bepracticed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments may relate to systems, methods, and devices for creating anddistributing exercise programs. These exercise programs may be forprompting selective adjustment of an exercise device and/or to simulatereal-world terrain associated with video data of a real-world route.Physical simulation of real-world terrain and displaying video depictingthe real-world route for a user of an exercise device may provide theuser with greater interest and motivation to use the exercise device.The simulation and the video may further provide a real sense of what itis like to traverse the terrain of the real-world route. In someinstances, video data captured during a particular event, such as arace, may further provide a sense of what it is like to participate inthe real-life event. In some instances, environmental conditions may beincluded in the simulation of the real-world terrain and/or thereal-life event.

This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified formthat are further described below in the Detailed Description. ThisSummary is not intended to identify key features or essentialcharacteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to beused as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a system may include a receiving moduleand a conversion module. The receiving module may be for receivinglocation data associating video data depicting a real-world route with atopographical, geographical and/or environmental location of thereal-world route. The conversion module may be for creating an exerciseprogram including control signals representing changes to be made to oneor more operating parameters of an exercise device as the video datadepicting the real-world route is displayed to a user of the exercisedevice. The control signals may be based at least in part on thelocation data. The changes to the one or more operating parameters maycorrespond at least in part to one or more aspects of the real-worldroute.

Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the receiving module may be further forreceiving the video data depicting the real-world route.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the conversion module may be further forstabilizing the video data depicting the real-world route.

Still yet another aspect of the disclosure may include any combinationof the above-mentioned features and the exercise program may furtherinclude the video data depicting the real-world route stabilized by theconversion module.

A further aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the location data may include globalpositioning data collected via a satellite navigation system as thevideo data captures the real-world route.

Yet another further aspect of the disclosure may include any combinationof the above-mentioned features and the exercise program may furtherinclude environment signals representing one or more targetenvironmental parameters for a location of the exercise device, thetarget environment parameters may correspond at least in part to one ormore aspects of the real-world route.

Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the one or more target environmentalparameters may include time-dependent environmental parameters.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the receiving module may be further forreceiving time data, and the one or more target environmental parametersmay include a time-dependent environmental parameter corresponding atleast in part to one or more aspects of the real-world route estimatedto occur at a time associated with the time data.

Still yet another aspect of the disclosure may include any combinationof the above-mentioned features and the exercise program may furtherinclude perceived route data representing at least a portion of thereal-world route as perceived via the video data, where an iconoverlaying the video data and located on the perceived route is depictedas being located on the real-world route depicted by the video data.

A further aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and the system may be for sending ghost datarepresenting a first icon that moves along the perceived route definedby the perceived route data to appear to move along the real-world routedepicted by the video data.

Yet another further aspect of the disclosure may include any combinationof the above-mentioned features and may further include a computingdevice including the receiving module and the conversion module.

Still yet another further aspect of the disclosure may include anycombination of the above-mentioned features and may further include acommunication device including the receiving module and the conversionmodule, the communication device may be for delivering the exerciseprogram to the exercise device by way of a network.

Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and may further include a distribution modulefor providing, by way of the network, information about a plurality ofexercise programs the communication device may deliver to the exercisedevice. The distribution module may be further for delivering theexercise program to the exercise device by way of the network inresponse to the exercise program being selected from the plurality ofexercise programs.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of theabove-mentioned features and may further include the exercise deviceincluding the receiving module and the conversion module.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the descriptionwhich follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or maybe learned by the practice of the embodiments. The features andadvantages of the embodiments will be realized and obtained by means ofthe instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.These and other features will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and claims, or may be learned by the practice ofthe embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of thepresent disclosure, a more particular description will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in theappended drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of theinvention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.The invention will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example exercise system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example exercise program creator that may beemployed in the example exercise system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a representation of a person participating in an activity withexample route data capturing devices that may be employed in the exampleexercise system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a representation of an example frame of video data that may bedisplayed in the example exercise system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system may include creating and distributing exercise programssimulating real-world terrain on exercise devices. The real-worldterrain of the exercise programs may be associated with video data of areal-world route. In some instances, the exercise program may includethe video data. Alternately, the video data may be separate from theexercise program. The video data may be captured by personalvideo-capturing devices accompanying a person traversing the real-worldroute. Thus, the video data of the real-world route may closelyrepresent what a person would see when traversing the real-world route.

Location data associating the video data with a topographical,geographical and/or environmental location of the real-world route maybe used to create the exercise programs and the exercise programs mayinclude control signals that cause the exercise equipment to changevarious operating parameters as the exercise program is executed. Thelocation data may be captured by personal location-capturing devicesaccompanying the person traversing the real-world route. In someinstances, a single device may capture both the video data and thelocation data as the person traverses the real-world route. Alternatelyor additionally, the location data may be captured by a device separatefrom the video-capturing device. Alternately or additionally, thelocation data may be input by a user, such as by identifying a path ofthe real-life route in a map program.

Optionally, the exercise program may include environment signals thatcause the exercise equipment to change various environmental parametersof the location of the exercise device. The environment signals may bebased on environment data related to the real-world route. In someinstances, the environment data may be captured by thelocation-capturing device, the video-capturing device, and/or otherdevices accompanying the person traversing the real-world route.Alternatively or additionally, the environment data may be based onobserved or estimated environment data, including forecasted environmentdata.

Optionally, the exercise program may include perceived route dataassociating the real-world route with the video data. The perceivedroute data may permit the exercise device to introduce supplementaryvisual data to the video data to depict the supplementary visual data asbeing located on the real-world route. In some instances, supplementaryvisual data may be introduced to indicate the upcoming path of thereal-world route, particularly where the real-world route does notfollow a clearly-defined path such as a road or trail. Alternately oradditionally, supplementary visual data such as an icon may beintroduced to indicate the relative position of one or more signpostsand/or “ghosts” for purposes such as information, racing, pacing,motivation, or the like or any combination thereof. In some instances,the exercise device may receive data related to the relative position ofone or more ghosts corresponding to the rate at which other userscompleted or are completing the exercise program. By way of example, twoor more users of the exercise program may participate in a virtual raceover the same simulated real-world route, even in instances where thetwo or more users complete the exercise program at different timesand/or in different locations or environments. In some instances, ghostdata and/or other supplementary visual data in conjunction with thevideo data depicting the real-world route may act to further keep a userboth motivated and exercising at a high intensity.

When a user executes a particular exercise program in connection with anexercise device, the user may exercise while the video data depictingthe real-world route is displayed to the user. The rate at which thevideo data is displayed to the user may generally correspond to a rateat which the user would traverse the real-world route with the effortexerted while using the exercise device. The operating parameters of theexercise device may change to simulate the real-world terraincorresponding to the video data. Thus, the user executing the exerciseprogram via the exercise device may experience a simulated navigation ofthe real-world route. Depending upon factors such as the fitness levelof the user, the operating parameters of the exercise device may also bemore or less challenging than the corresponding real-world terrain. Thismay, for example, facilitate training for a particular event oractivity. This may also allow users of different fitness levels and/orabilities to perform all or a portion of a given activity.

For example, where the video data was captured while traversing aninclined real-world route, the exercise device may change one or moreoperating parameters to provide the user with a sensation of traversinga similarly inclined route. For instance, the exercise device may changeone or more operating parameters of the exercise device, such as anincline/decline, a tilt, a speed, a resistance, or the like, or anycombination thereof.

In instances where the exercise program includes environment signals,the exercise device may change one or more environmental conditions ofthe location of the exercise device, such as a room housing the exercisedevice and/or a space near the user of the exercise device. Theenvironment data may further simulate the real-world route by changingone or more of the environmental conditions experienced by the user ofthe exercise device based on one or more environmental conditions of thereal-world route. In some instances, the environmental signals may bebased on the environmental conditions of the real-world route asobserved or estimated to exist at the time the video data was captured.Alternately, the environmental signals may be based on environmentalconditions observed or estimated to exist at a different time. Forexample, an exercise program intended to facilitate training for aparticular race may include environment signals based on environmentalconditions likely to exist at the scheduled time of the particular race.

The system may allow users to browse and/or search a collection ofavailable exercise programs and to select an exercise program from thecollection. A selected exercise program may be sent to an exercisedevice of the selecting user. The system may provide relevantinformation regarding the exercise programs to allow users to identifyexercise programs that meet desired criteria.

By way of example, a runner, cyclist, hiker, cross-country skier, or thelike may traverse a real-world terrain with a video-capturing devicepositioned to capture video data of the real-world route. Traversal ofthe real-world terrain may be associated with a race or some otherevent, such as a marathon or the like. Location data and/or environmentdata may also be captured by the video-capturing device, some otherdevice, and/or by a user inputting location regarding the real-worldroute.

The system may receive the location data, the environment data and/orthe video and may create one or more exercise programs to include in thecollection of available exercise programs. Optionally, the system maystabilize or otherwise alter the video data. Incentives may be providedto encourage users and/or other parties to provide data that will leadto the creation of popular exercise programs. Thus, the system mayfacilitate the creation of a rich collection of exercise programscovering a variety of races, events, routes, terrains, locales, and/orthe like.

In some embodiments, the system may allow a user to select variablesindependently. For example, a user may plot a course on an interactivemap, may select one or more videos associated with the selected courseor with portions of the selected course, and/or may select environmentalconditions. Thus, for example, a user may select a course not preciselyassociated with a particular video, and/or may select conditionsdifferent from those associated with the selected video or videos. Forinstance, a user may wish to train in more extreme conditions or in morecomfortable conditions than are associated with the selected video orvideos.

Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures willbe provided with like reference designations. The drawings arediagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments and,accordingly, are not limiting of the scope of the claimed subjectmatter, nor are the drawings necessarily drawn to scale. The system mayinclude one or more features and/or aspects shown in the drawings, orcombinations thereof. The system may also be used in combination withother features and/or aspects depending, for example, upon the intendeduse of the system.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example exercise system 100. The exercisesystem 100 may include an example exercise device 104 contained within alocation 102. The location 102 may be a room containing the exercisedevice 104, an unbound area surrounding the exercise device, or thelike.

The exercise device 104 may include any form of controllable exercisemachine, including treadmills, stationary cycles, Nordic-style skiers,rowers, steppers, hikers, climbers, elliptical or striding devices, orthe like.

The exercise device 104 may include operating mechanics 110. Theoperating mechanics 110 may include one or more electrically-driven orother mechanisms for creating or otherwise controlling movement.Operating mechanics may include motors, actuators, and the like forcontrolling one or more operating parameters of the exercise device 104,such as speed, resistance, incline (e.g., front-to-backincline/decline), tilt (e.g., side-to-side tilt), or the like.

The exercise device 104 may further include a controller 108 forcontrolling the operating parameters of the exercise device via theoperating mechanics 110. Optionally, the controller 108 may controlenvironmental parameters of the location 102 via an environment control116.

In some embodiments, the environment control 116 may form part of theexercise device 104. Alternately, the environment control 116 may bephysically separate from the exercise device 104 and may becommunicatively coupled with or connected to the exercise device.Operation of the environment control 116 may generally be similar to theenvironment controller described in United States Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2013/0267383, which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

The environment control 116 may include a communication module 120 forcommunicating with one or more environment-altering devices 118. Theenvironment-altering devices 118 may include any devices for altering anenvironment of the location 102. The environment-altering devices 118may include home-automation devices associated with the location 102,devices built into the exercise device 104, and/or separate devicesassociated with the location. Environment-altering devices 118 mayinclude heating/cooling systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, fans,misters, lighting, or the like or any combination thereof.

The environment control 116 may include a learning module 124. Thelearning module 124 may consider the effects of the environment-alteringdevices 118, the exercise device 104, the user of the exercise device104, weather conditions, and/or the like on the environmental conditionsof the location 102. For example, the learning module 124 may monitorone or more environmental conditions of the location 102 via sensors122, and/or via querying one or more of the environment-altering devices118. The learning module 124 may further monitor one or more operatingparameters of the exercise device 104, the environment-altering devices118, the user, or the like. Operating parameters of the user may includethe user's heart rate, work output, or the like. In some embodiments,the learning module 124 may monitor the weather in a geographicallocation associated with the location 102 to consider the effects ofweather on the environmental conditions of the location 102. Thelearning module 124 may retrieve weather conditions from one or more ofthe environment-altering devices 118, the sensors 122, resource systems130 via a network 127, or the like. For example, the learning module 124may retrieve weather conditions via a website such as WEATHER.COM,WEATHER.GOV, ACCUWEATHER.COM, or the like.

The learning module 124 may generally determine a model for how theenvironmental conditions of the location 102 are affected by variousparameters and may control the environment-altering devices 118according to the model to allow environmental parameters indicated bythe exercise programs to be more accurately obtained. The learningmodule 124 may employ machine learning or a similar method fordetermining how the environmental conditions of the location 102 areaffected by various parameters.

The learning module 124 may predict and/or account for delays betweenchanging an operating parameter of one or more of theenvironment-altering devices 118 and obtaining a desired environmentalcondition of the location 102. By way of example, if the exercise device104 is located in a small room with unobstructed heating and coolingvents, it may not take long for the environmental condition of the smallroom to change after changing an operating parameter of an associatedheating or cooling system. Conversely, if the exercise device 104 islocated in a large room with few unobstructed heating or cooling vents,it may take more time for the environmental conditions to change afterchanging the operating parameter of the associated heating or coolingsystem.

Similarly, the intensity at which the user of the exercise device 104 isexercising may affect the environmental conditions of the location 102.For example, the user may raise the temperature and/or humidity of asmall room relatively quickly during and immediately following periodsof high-intensity exercise. The user may have less of an effect on theenvironmental conditions of the location 102 if the exercise device 104is in a large room.

The learning module 124 may allow environmental parameters associatedwith various exercise programs to be more accurately achieved withminimal hassle from the user of the exercise device 104. Put anotherway, learning module 124 may allow environment signals of the exerciseprogram to prompt desired changes to the environmental conditions of thelocation 102 without being particularly adapted for individual exercisedevices in various settings. Thus, in some instances, the experience ofexecuting a particular exercise program may be made consistent acrossdifferent settings.

The operating parameters of the exercise device 104 and/or theenvironmental parameters of the location 102 may be changed by a user ofthe exercise device 104 and/or by an exercise program.

In some embodiments, the exercise program may be located in a storagedevice 114 of the exercise device 104 and executed by a processor 115 ofthe exercise device 104. Alternately or additionally, the exerciseprogram may be located in a storage device (not shown) external to theexercise device 104. The storage external to the exercise device 104 maybe communicatively coupled with or connected to the exercise device 104via the communication module 112.

The communication module may allow communication between the exampleexercise device 104 and other parts of the exercise system 100,including the environment control 116, a video display device 106, anetwork 127, a computing device 126, and/or route data capturing devices128. The communication module 112 may optionally receive exerciseprograms from the computing device 126 and/or from the network 127. Thecommunication module 112 may communicate via a variety of connections,including wired connections; wireless connections such as IEEE 802.11wireless communication connections, BLUETOOTH, and/or infrared (IR);physical insertion of portable storage devices such as universal serialbus (USB) flash drives, secure digital (SD) memory cards; or the like orany combination thereof.

The exercise system 100 may include the video display device 106. Insome embodiments, the video display device 106 may form part of theexercise device 104 or may otherwise be physically attached to theexercise device 104. Alternately, the video display device 106 may bephysically separate from the exercise device 104 and may becommunicatively coupled with or connected to the exercise device 104 ormay otherwise be for displaying video data associated with the exerciseprogram. In some embodiments, multiple video display devices (not shown)generally corresponding to the video display device 106 may be includedin the exercise system 100.

The exercise system 100 may include one or more exercise programcreators such as an exercise program creator 134A, an exercise programcreator 134B, and an exercise program creator 134C (which may becollectively or individually referred to as “exercise program creators134” for convenience and brevity). By way of example, the exercisedevice 104 may include the exercise program creator 134A. Alternately oradditionally, the computing device 126, which may be a desktop computer,laptop computer, tablet computer, mobile phone, or the like, may includethe exercise program creator 134B. Alternately or additionally, thecommunication device 132, such as a server accessible over the network127 via a website, an application, or the like, may include the exerciseprogram creator 134C.

The exercise program creators 134 may accept data from one or more routedata capturing devices 128 to create the exercise program.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example exercise program creator 200 that maygenerally correspond to the exercise program creators 134 of FIG. 1.Although the exercise program creator 200 is illustrated as havingdiscrete modules, in some instances the various modules may be combinedinto fewer modules, divided into additional modules, and/or removedbased on the desired implementation.

The exercise program creator 200 may include a receiving module 202. Thereceiving module 202 may receive location data associating video datadepicting a real-world route with a topographical, geographical orenvironmental location of the real-world route. The location data mayinclude and/or may allow derivation of a relative speed at which thevideo data depicts the real-world route, elevations of the real-worldroute, changes of elevation of the real-world route, a latitude andlongitude of the real-world route, or the like or any combinationthereof.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the receiving module 202 may alsoreceive the video data depicting the real-world route. The locationdata, however, may be employed to create the exercise program separateof the video data. For example, in some instances, the location data maybe used to create an exercise program that may be paired with theassociated, but separate, video data. In some instances, creating theexercise program without the video data may allow exercise programs tobe created without extensive transmission of video data files, which maybe relatively large, particularly when the video data was captured overa particularly long period of time.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary representation of a person 302 participating inan activity with example route data capturing devices that may generallycorrespond to the route data capturing devices 128 of FIG. 1.

The person 302 may wear, carry or otherwise use a video data capturingdevice 304 while participating in an activity. The person 302 is shownas running, but the activity may alternatively or additionally includecycling, skiing, walking, hiking, or the like. The video data capturingdevice 304 is shown as being worn on a torso of the person 302, but thevideo data capturing device 304 may alternately be worn on a head orother body part of the person 302, or may be attached to equipment, suchas a frame of a bicycle, associated with the activity.

The video data capturing device 304 may capture location data inaddition to video data. Alternately or additionally, a location datacapturing device 306 may capture location data. The location datacapturing device 306 may include sensors including, for example, a GPSreceiver, a compass, accelerometers, gyroscopes, timekeepers, or thelike or any combination thereof. The location data capturing device 306may include a mobile phone, a running watch, a cycling computer, or thelike or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the video datacapturing device 304, the location data capturing device 306, and/or aseparate environment data capturing device (not shown) such as aportable environment monitor may capture environment data.

With combined reference again to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in some embodiments,the video data and the location data may be located within the same datafile. For example, the video data and the location data may be capturedby a single device. In some instances, the location data may be exportedor otherwise separated from the data file containing the video data.Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the location data may becaptured by a device separate from the device that captured the videodata. The video data and the location data captured by separate devicesmay be synchronized by time values and/or other data shared between thevideo data and the location data. Alternately or additionally, thesynchronization may be done manually.

In some embodiments, the location data may be used to query informationnot included in or derivable from the location data, and/or informationmore detailed than the information included in or derivable from thelocation data. For example, if elevation data is not included orderivable for one or more portions of the real-world route, the exerciseprogram creator 200 may request elevation data from the resource systems130 based on other data such as latitude and longitude data from thelocation data. In some instances, elevation data and/or other locationdata may be queried from a third-party resource system 130 such asMAPQUEST.COM, MAP.GOOGLE.COM, the GOOGLE EARTH database, the Global 30Arc-Second Elevation (GTOPO30) database, the BING MAPS database, theAPPLE MAPS database, the United States Geological Survey (NSGS) NationalElevation Dataset (NED) database, or the like or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the location data associated with thevideo data may be identified via the resource systems 130. For example,a user may identify a route within one or more of the resource systems130 defining the real-world route.

In some embodiments, the location data may include global positioningdata collected via a satellite navigation system. For example, thelocation data may include Global Positioning System (GPS) data, GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GLONASS) data, Galileo data, or the like.The location data may be in a variety of formats, such as GPS Exchange(GPX) format, Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, or the like. Insome embodiments, the location data format may be converted to one ormore particular formats for use in creating the exercise program.

The exercise program creator 200 may include a conversion module 204.The conversion module 204 may create the exercise program based on thelocation data. In some embodiments, the conversion module 204 mayalternately or additionally create the exercise program based on thevideo data and/or environment data.

The control signals may represent changes to be made to one or moreoperating parameters of the exercise device 104. The conversion module204 may create the control signals based on one or more aspects of thereal-world route. For example, the control signals may represent changesto be made to the incline of the exercise device 104. The controlsignals may be based on a pitch of the terrain corresponding to theperspective of the video data and the control signals may be used by theoperating mechanics 110. For example, for video data that is capturedwhile running up a path having a 7-degree pitch, the control signals maycorrespond to a positive 7-degree pitch operating parameter of theexercise device 104. By further example, for video data that is capturedwhile traveling 10 miles per hour, the control signals may correspond toa 10 mile per hour speed operating parameter of the exercise device 104.In some embodiments, the control signals may be specific to a particulartype or class of exercise device, such as a treadmill or a stationarycycle. The exercise program may include control signals specific to avariety of classes and/or types of exercise devices.

Alternately or additionally, the control signals may be generic to twoor more classes of exercise devices. In some instances, differentclasses of exercise devices may change different operating parametersand/or may change the same operating parameters to different degrees inresponse to the same control signals. The response to the controlsignals may be based on changing the operating parameters that may mostrealistically simulate the real-world terrain corresponding to thecontrol signals. For example, a treadmill may change an inclineoperating parameter based on incline-based control signals and astationary cycle may change a resistance operating parameter based onthe incline-based control signals. By way of further example, anelliptical device change an incline operating parameter to a differentdegree than the treadmill and may also change a resistance operatingparameter to a different degree than the stationary cycle based on theincline-based control signals.

In some instances, the control signals may be altered to reflectoperating limitations, safety regulations, and/or safety limitations ofthe exercise device 104. For example, if the pitch of the terrain isoutside of an incline range of the exercise device 104, the controlsignals may be restricted to a particular range. Furthermore, if thepitch of the terrain changes faster or more often than is recommendedfor a tilt-controlling motor and/or actuator, the control signals may befiltered in a manner that keeps to exercise device 104 withinrecommended operating conditions. By way of still further example, ifthe pitch changes suddenly without advance visual warning from the videodata, e.g., if the path takes a sharp, sudden turn from a flat path tostairs or some other steep pitch, the control signals may slow thedegree of change of the incline to allow a user of the exercise programtime to recognize that the incline is to change. In some embodiments, asmoothing factor may be applied to the control signals to encourage therate at which operating conditions of the exercise device 104 change toremain within a particular range. The smoothing factor may be dependenton the type of exercise device 104. For example, a treadmill may employa smoothing factor, a different style of treadmill may employ anothersmoothing factor, an exercise bicycle may employ another smoothingfactor, and/or an elliptical device may employ another smoothing factor.

In some embodiments, the conversion module 204 may further createindicator signals representing information to be displayed by the videodisplay device 106 of the and/or by a non-video display device (notshown) of the exercise device 104. The indicator signals may representinformation related to the real-world route. For example, the indicatorsignals may include a percentage of the exercise program finished, adistance traveled, a distance to go, and/or a total distance of thereal-world route, or the like or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the conversion module 204 may be for stabilizingthe video data. In some instances, the video data may be captured in away that causes the video data to shake, bounce, sway, or otherwise movein a manner that may make the video data detract from the sensation thata user of the exercise program is traversing the terrain shown in thevideo data. Furthermore, in some instances, observing video data thatmoves in a manner inconsistent with an observer's sensation of movementmay cause motion sickness in some people, sometimes described assimulation sickness. The conversion module 204 may stabilize the videodata. Alternately or additionally, resource systems 130 such asthird-party video-processing systems may be used to stabilize the videodata. In some instances, the conversion module 204 may employ locationdata and/or other data accompanying the video data, e.g., gyroscopeinformation from a video capture device, in stabilizing the video data.

The rate at which the video data is displayed on the video displaydevice 106 may generally correspond to a rate at which the user wouldtraverse the real-world route given the amount of work output by theuser at the example exercise device 104. The exercise programs may allowa user to observe the video data at the rate the video data wascaptured, but fitness levels and/or training goals of the user, or thelike may have the user traversing one or more portions of the simulatedreal-world route of the exercise program faster or slower than the videodata was captured. The video data may be displayed at a correspondinglyfaster or slower rate to match the user's simulated location.

In some embodiments, the exercise program may include environmentalsignals representing target environmental parameters. The targetenvironmental parameters may correspond to aspects of the real-worldroute. For example, the environmental parameters may includetemperatures, humidities, wind speeds, wind directions, light valuessuch as color and intensity, or the like of the real-world route. Thetarget environmental parameters may be based on environment dataobserved as the video data was captured.

Alternately or additionally, the receiving module 202 may receive timedata. In some instances, the time data may indicate the time the videodata and/or the location data was captured and may be included in thelocation data and/or the video data. The time data may be used toretrieve estimated and/or observed weather conditions present at thereal-world route at the time the video data was captured via a websitesuch as WEATHER.COM, WEATHER.GOV, ACCUWEATHER.COM, or the like.Alternately or additionally, the time data may indicate a time differentfrom the time the video data and/or the location data was captured.Estimated, average, and/or forecasted weather conditions at thereal-world route may be retrieved via a website or the like for thedifferent time.

In some embodiments, one or more of the target environmental parametersmay be time-dependent. By way of example, a temperature-basedenvironmental parameter may be based on the real-world route generallywarming or cooling as the day goes on, and/or may be based on a weatherevent such as a cold front coming in at a particular time. In someembodiments, time-dependent environmental parameters of the exerciseprogram may occur at a particular time into the exercise programregardless of where a user of the exercise program is located along thesimulation of the real-world route. Such time-dependent environmentalparameters may allow for a more realistic simulation of traversing thereal-world route, as traversing the real-world route faster would notcause the day to warm or cool faster.

In some embodiments, one or more of the target environmental parametersmay be route-dependent. By way of example, a light-based environmentalparameter may be based on the video depicting shaded areas of thereal-world route, sunny areas of the real-world route, and the like.Such route-dependent environmental parameters may allow for a morerealistic simulation of the video data and the real-world route, as theenvironmental parameters may change to reflect what a user of theexercise program sees on the video data as well as what the user wouldsee if traversing the real-world route at the given pace.

In some instances, time-dependent environmental parameters may be basedon aspects of the real-world route that a user of the exercise programmay not observe in the video data. Route-dependent environmentalparameters may be based on aspects of the real-world route that the userof the exercise program may observe in the video data. In someembodiments, the route-dependent environmental parameters may berelative to the time-dependent environmental parameters. For example, aroute-dependent environmental parameter may increase or decrease thetime-dependent environmental parameters by a particular number ofdegrees, by an amount defined by a formula, or the like. Defining theroute-dependent environmental parameters relative to the time-dependentenvironmental parameters may allow for a more realistic simulation ofthe real-world route, as localized effects of the real-world route, suchas traversing a shaded area, may affect time-dependent environmentalparameters, such as an overall temperature.

The exercise program creator 200 may include a distribution module 208.The distribution module 208 may be used to allow users to browse,select, and/or receive exercise programs. In some instances, theexercise program creator 134C may include the distribution module 208 toallow the created exercise programs to be delivered to a variety ofusers (not shown) and/or exercise devices (not shown). The exerciseprogram creator 134C and/or the distribution module 208 may beanalogous, similar or related to the exercise device 104 by way of thenetwork 127.

In some embodiments, the distribution module 208 may include a websiteand/or other internet-based system for allowing users to browse and/orsearch a collection of available exercise programs. By way of example,the distribution module 208 may be included in the IFIT® system (IFIT isa registered trademark of ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.). For example,exercise programs may be distributed at WWW.IFIT.COM/FITNESSSHOP and/orvia exercise equipment otherwise connected to the IFIT fitness shop viathe network 127.

The distribution module 208 may further allow users to rate and/orreview exercise programs the users have tried. In some embodiments, thedistribution module 208 may allow users or other third parties to uploadvideo data and location data to allow the exercise program creator 200to create an exercise program as described herein for use by theuploading user and/or for distribution on the website. Alternately oradditionally, the distribution module 208 may allow users to uploadexercise programs for distribution. For example, the distribution module208 may allow exercise programs created by the exercise program creator134A or the exercise program creator 134B to be uploaded.

The distribution module 208 may be for encouraging users to uploadhigh-quality, unique, and/or varied video data, location data, and/orexercise programs. For example, the distribution module 208 may rankuploaders, data and/or exercise programs according to the popularity,ratings, and/or the like. Alternately or additionally, the distributionmodule 208 may create a competitive atmosphere for the uploaders.Alternately or additionally, the distribution module 208 may providecompensation in the form of money, credits to be used for product (e.g.,exercise programs) from the distribution module 208, or the like.

The distribution module 208 may provide information about thecharacteristics of the available exercise programs. The exerciseprograms may be searched, filtered, ranked, or the like according to thecharacteristics of the exercise programs. By way of example,characteristics of the exercise programs may include total distance,maximum and/or minimum incline values, elevation changes, what types ofenvironmental parameters are included (if any), maximum and/or minimumtemperature values or other environmental parameter values,compatibility with particular types of exercise devices, video quality,video stabilization, time of day, event type (e.g., marathon, centurycycling race, steeplechase, or the like), ratings by other users,uploader identity, or the like or any combination thereof.

Optionally, the exercise program may include perceived route datarepresenting the real-world route as perceived via the video data. Insome embodiments, the conversion module 204 may generate the perceivedroute data. Alternately or additionally, one or more resource systems130 such as third-party video processing systems may be used to generatethe perceived route data. The perceived route data may allow theexercise device 104 to overlay the video data with supplementary visualdata such as depictions of the perceived route. Alternately oradditionally, the exercise device 104 may overlay the video data withother supplementary visual data such as one or more icons located on theperceived route. The user of the exercise program may perceive the iconsas being located on and following the real-world route depicted by thevideo data.

In some embodiments, the perceived route data may be generated withoutthe video data. For example, the location data, such as GPS data,compass data, accelerometer data, gyroscope data, or the like or anysuitable combination thereof may be used to generate the perceived routedata in a manner analogous to generating overlay placement in augmentedreality techniques, although other suitable techniques may be used.

In some instances, information about the characteristics of the videodata may be considered in generating the perceived route data. Forexample, information regarding a field of view, a focal length, a framesize, or the like of the video data associated with the location datamay be used to create the perceived route data for the exercise program.In some instances, the perceived route data may be abstracted relativeto the characteristics of the video data to allow the exercise device104 to adapt the perceived route data to match the characteristics ofthe video data.

Alternatively or additionally, the video data may be used in generatingthe perceived route data. For example, the video data may be analyzed,with or without the location data, to generate the perceived route datain a manner analogous to cinematographic match moving techniques, alsodescribed as motion tracking or camera solving, although other suitabletechniques may be used.

FIG. 4 is a representation of an example frame 400 of video data thatmay be displayed by the video display device 106 of the exercise system100 of FIG. 1. Perceived route data for the video data including theframe 400 may be included in an associated exercise program.

The frame 400 may include an overlay representation of the perceivedroute 402. The perceived route 402 may indicate the upcoming path of thereal-world route displayed in the frame 400. In some embodiments, theperceived route 402 itself is not included in the video data, but may beoptionally displayed as an icon overlay positioned by the exercisedevice 104 according to the perceived route data included in theexercise program. Alternatively, the video data may be altered topermanently include the perceived route 402.

The frame 400 may also include a ghost 404A and a ghost 404B(collectively “ghosts 404”). A “ghost” may refer to an icon, indicia orother representation that moves along the perceived route 402 as theuser performs the exercise program. The ghosts 404 may represent arelative position on the real-world path relative to the perception ofthe viewer of the frame 400. The ghosts 404 may be represented by anicon overlaying the video data on the perceived route 402. The iconrepresenting the ghosts 404 may overlay the video data along theperceived route without showing the perceived route 402 on the frame400.

Locating the ghosts 404 on the video data according to the perceivedroute data may depict the ghosts 404 as being located on and followingthe real-world route shown on the frame 400. The ghosts 404 mayrepresent any location of interest on the real-world route.

For example, the ghost 404A may represent a best time that the userpreviously completed the exercise program. The ghost 404B may representa location of another person, such as a social acquaintance, the personwho captured the video, or any other person, such as a celebrity and/ortrainer, for whom information regarding the real-world route orsimulated real-world route is known. In some instances, the ghost 404Bmay represent a person completing the same exercise program at the sametime. Alternatively, the ghost 404B may represent available completiondata of another person, positioned as if the ghost 404B started theexercise program at the same time as the user. Thus, the ghosts 404 mayallow people to virtually race about simulated real-world routes atdifferent times and in different locations. Ghost data and accompanyinginformation may be exchanged between exercise devices via a network suchas the network 127 and potentially with assistance from one or morecommunication devices such as the communication device 132.

The ghosts 404 are shown with identifying labels. More or lessinformation may be shown regarding the ghosts 404. For example,information such as speed; pace; distance from user; whether the user isgaining on, pacing, or falling behind; or the like or any combinationthereof may be displayed. Other visual information may be displayed,such as a picture or avatar of the person represented by the ghosts 404.The appearance of the ghosts 404 may also be changed to reflect apreference of the user and/or the person represented by the ghosts 404.For example, the person represented by the ghost 404B may select anavatar to be displayed to users of the exercise program who race theghost 404B.

In some instances, when the user is ahead of the position of one or moreof the ghosts 404, an icon may be displayed at the bottom of the frame400 indicating that the ghost is “behind” the user. Furthermore, whenone or more of the ghosts 404 is ahead of the user to a degree that theghost is no longer on the perceived route 402 within the frame 400, anicon may be displayed where the perceived route 402 leaves the frame, orthe like, indicating that the ghost is farther along the real-worldroute than can be seen in the frame 400.

In some embodiments, other icons and/or ghosts may be used to representother information. For example, a ghost may represent a target pace oranother goal of the user. Alternately or additionally, iconsrepresenting virtual signposts may be placed along the perceived route402. As used herein, “signpost” may refer to an icon that appears toremain stationary relative to the perceived route 402, similar to a realsignpost located along the real-world route. The virtual signposts mayinclude distance-markers, motivational messages, or the like.

The embodiments described herein may physically alter operatingparameters of an exercise device, may generate instructions forphysically altering operation parameters of an exercise device fromlocation data associated with a real-life route, and/or the like.Alternately or additionally, the embodiments described herein mayinclude the use of a special purpose or general-purpose computerincluding various computer hardware or software modules, as discussed ingreater detail below.

Embodiments described herein may be implemented using computer-readablemedia for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media may be anyavailable media that may be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable media may include tangible computer-readable storagemedia including random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compactdisc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other storagemedium which may be used to carry or store desired program code in theform of computer-executable instructions or data structures and whichmay be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.Combinations of the above may also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions. Although the subject matter has been described inlanguage specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, itis to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appendedclaims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actsdescribed above. Rather, the specific features and acts described aboveare disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

As used herein, the term “module” or “component” may refer to softwareobjects or routines that execute on the computing system. The differentcomponents, modules, engines, and services described herein may beimplemented as objects or processes that execute on the computing system(e.g., as separate threads). While the system and methods describedherein are preferably implemented in software, implementations inhardware or a combination of software and hardware are also possible andcontemplated. In this description, a “computing entity” may be anycomputing system as previously defined herein, or any module orcombination of modulates running on a computing system.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a receiving module forreceiving location data associating video data depicting a real-worldroute with a topographical location of the real-world route; and aconversion module for creating an exercise program including controlsignals representing changes to be made to one or more operatingparameters of an exercise device as the video data depicting thereal-world route is displayed to a user of the exercise device, thecontrol signals based at least in part on the location data, and thechanges to the one or more operating parameters corresponding at leastin part to one or more aspects of the real-world route.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the receiving module is further for receiving the videodata depicting the real-world route.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinthe conversion module is further for stabilizing the video datadepicting the real-world route.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein theexercise program further includes the video data depicting thereal-world route stabilized by the conversion module.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the location data includes global positioning datacollected via a satellite navigation system as the video data capturesthe real-world route.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the exerciseprogram further includes environment signals representing one or moretarget environmental parameters for a location of the exercise device,the target environment parameters corresponding at least in part to oneor more aspects of the real-world route.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the one or more target environmental parameters include atime-dependent environmental parameter.
 8. The system of claim 6,wherein the one or more target environmental parameters include aroute-dependent environmental parameter.
 9. The system of claim 6,wherein the receiving module is further for receiving time data, and theone or more target environmental parameters include a time-dependentenvironmental parameter corresponding at least in part to one or moreaspects of the real-world route estimated to occur at a time associatedwith the time data.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the exerciseprogram further includes perceived route data representing at least aportion of the real-world route as perceived via the video data, andwherein an icon overlaying the video data and located on a perceivedroute defined by the perceived route data is depicted as being locatedon the real-world route depicted by the video data.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the system is for sending ghost data representing afirst icon that moves along the perceived route defined by the perceivedroute data, the first icon appearing to move along the real-world routedepicted by the video data.
 12. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a computing device including the receiving module and theconversion module.
 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising acommunication device including the receiving module and the conversionmodule, the communication device for delivering the exercise program tothe exercise device by way of a network.
 14. The system of claim 13,further comprising a distribution module for: providing, by way of thenetwork, information about a plurality of exercise programs, includingthe exercise program; and delivering the exercise program to theexercise device by way of the network in response to the exerciseprogram being selected from the plurality of exercise programs.
 15. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising the exercise device including thereceiving module and the conversion module.
 16. A communication devicecomprising: a receiving module for: receiving, by way of a network,video data depicting a real-world route; and receiving, by way of thenetwork, location data associating the video data with a topographicallocation of the real-world route; a conversion module for creating anexercise program comprising: the video data depicting the real-worldroute; and control signals representing changes to be made to one ormore operating parameters of an exercise device as the video datadepicting the real-world route is displayed to a user of the exercisedevice, the control signals based at least in part on the location data,and the changes to the one or more operating parameters corresponding atleast in part to one or more aspects of the real-world route; and adistribution module for: delivering, by way of the network, informationabout a plurality of exercise programs, including the exercise program;and delivering, by way of the network, the exercise program to theexercise device in response to the exercise program being selected fromthe plurality of exercise programs.
 17. The communication device ofclaim 16, wherein the received video data depicting the real-world routeis stabilized before being included in the exercise program.
 18. Thecommunication device of claim 16, wherein the exercise program furtherincludes environment signals representing one or more targetenvironmental parameters for a location of the exercise device, theenvironment signals corresponding at least in part to one or moreaspects of the real-world route.
 19. The communication device of claim16, wherein the exercise program further includes perceived route datarepresenting at least a portion of the real-world route as perceived viathe video data, and wherein an icon overlaying the video data andlocated on the perceived route is depicted as being located on thereal-world route depicted by the video data.
 20. The communicationdevice of claim 16, wherein the location data includes globalpositioning data collected via a global positioning system as the videodata captures the real-world route.